Deraの小説

CHAPTER 45Nancy stirred first. Not fully awake, just enough to feel the solid, comforting weight of something warm and steady beneath her. Her breath hitched, then stilled. She didn't open her eyes, not yet. She already knew. The warmth. The quiet. The unexpected, deep comfort.Andrew.Her fingers curled almost imperceptibly around his shirt, the fabric surprisingly soft under her touch. She hadn't meant to fall asleep like this, half-draped over him, her head resting against his chest, but somewhere in the night, it had stopped feeling temporary. It felt… right.Slowly, Nancy opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the gentle rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek. Then she heard it, his heartbeat. Slow. Even. Alive. A small knot of emotion tightened in her throat. She’d spent so much time watching him from a distance, monitoring symptoms, counting breaths, always making sure he was okay. But this closeness? It felt completely different. It wasn't clinical. It wasn't ca

CHAPTER 44Andrew didn't go to the office. That alone said more than he probably meant. He stood in his room, already dressed, watch strapped tight, everything meticulously in place, yet his feet refused to move toward the door. His reflection stared back, a perfect mask of control, sharp and completely unbothered. It was a lie, and he knew it. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as he forced his gaze away.The conversation from earlier replayed, every biting word slicing through his thoughts. *You don’t get to push me away and then get jealous.* He let out a slow breath. She was right. That was the part that snagged, the part that felt fundamentally wrong. Not what she’d said, but the uncomfortable truth that it actually made sense. Andrew dragged a hand through his hair, pacing a short circuit across the room before abruptly stopping. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered, the words barely audible. And yet, he still hadn’t left. His feet finally moved, overriding his own interna

CHAPTER 43Andrew was already up. He hadn't slept worth a damn, though he’d never be the first to admit it. He stood by his window, one hand pressed lightly against the cool glass, the city a muted sprawl of sharp lines below. His reflection stared back, a mask of composure, of control. Perfect. Almost. A faint clench in his jaw betrayed him, just like the almost imperceptible tap of his fingers against the pane before they stilled.*Boss.*The word, unbidden, echoed in his mind. He let out a slow breath, pushing away from the window. “This is ridiculous,” he grumbled, reaching for his jacket. And yet, the word lingered.***Nancy walked into the kitchen as the morning sun finally decided to properly grace the room. A faint, comforting scent of coffee hung in the air—fresh, warm, blessedly normal. She paused when she saw Andrew, his back to her, standing by the counter, his posture rigid, distant.“Morning,” she offered.He didn’t turn right away. “Morning.” There was something about

CHAPTER 42The night air followed them inside, a faint coolness clinging to their clothes and skin, carrying the quiet scent of water and something else, something unspoken that neither of them had yet put a name to. Nancy walked a step ahead as they left the pool area, her arms folded loosely across her chest, her pace unhurried but with a definite purpose. Behind her, Andrew walked, his expression outwardly calm, but his mind… well, it was anything but.Kendrick.The name had lodged itself somewhere deep and uncomfortable, refusing to budge. He didn't like it. Not one bit. He didn't like how easily it had slipped into their conversation, or how her voice had softened when she spoke of him. He hated the thought of a whole segment of her life—memories, laughter, shared history—that he had no part in. And, more than anything, he really, *really* didn't like the way it made him feel.They reached the hallway. Nancy slowed just a fraction, glancing back. "I'll… go shower," she said.Andr

CHAPTER 41The last remnants of sweetness lingered in the air long after the dessert plates were cleared away. Nancy leaned back, her fingertips gently tracing an invisible path on the polished wood table. The rich, comforting taste of cocoa and cream still coated her tongue, a stark contrast to the knot of tension that had marked the start of her day.Across from her, Andrew had already set his napkin aside. He hadn't touched his dessert. Not a single bite. Nancy noticed, of course, but this time, she kept her thoughts to herself. Instead, she watched him, marveling at his composure—how completely unaffected he seemed by everything surrounding them. It was almost believable. Almost.He then stood, adjusting a sleeve with a small, deliberate movement. “I’ll be outside,” he said, his voice even.Nancy looked up. “Outside?”“By the pool.”A beat of silence.“Try not to eat everything,” he added, a dry edge to his tone.Nancy rolled her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. “No promis

CHAPTER 40Nancy barely waited for the car to fully stop before yanking the door open. She practically tumbled out, a sharp, controlled movement that screamed she was holding herself back by sheer force of will.“Ma..,” the driver started, but Nancy cut him off, already on the move.“I’ve got it,” she said, her voice tight. Her platform shoes clicked a quick rhythm against the pavement as she strode toward the entrance, her grip white-knuckled on her bag, her shoulders set like stone. She didn’t look back. Not even once.Behind her, Andrew lingered in the car for a beat longer than necessary. Just watching. His jaw clenched for a second before he finally emerged, straightening his jacket as if nothing significant had just transpired. The driver quietly closed the door behind him.Inside, the penthouse was a sanctuary of calm. Cool air, polished silence, everything impeccably in its place.“Welcome back, sir,” James greeted, stepping forward. His voice was steady, but his eyes flickere

CHAPTER SIXTHE RULESA knock came at 7:30. Sharp. Three raps. Elena flinched, her whole body jerking like she'd been shocked."Miss." Martha's voice through the wood. Dry, efficient, no warmth. "Breakfast in thirty minutes. Dress in the closet. Be presentable."Elena didn't answer. She listened to footsteps fade down the hallway, then waited another ten minutes before she moved. Her legs were stiff, her back ached, her eyes burned from staring at nothing all night. She walked to the closet like a woman twice her age.The clothes were there. Simple things. Black pants, white blouses, no dresses. Nothing that looked like what she'd worn to the auction. She was dressed in black pants and a white blouse. Brushed her teeth with the toothbrush Martha had left. She looked in the mirror and saw a stranger. Pale, hollow-eyed, hair tangled from a night of silent shaking. She tried to smooth it, gave up, pulled it back with an elastic band she found in the drawer.The hallway was different in

CHAPTER 5— Present time The car came to a halt in front of a large mansion. The driver got out and rushed to open the Adrian side of the door.Adrian got out without looking at her. She didn't need the invitation to know what to do. Elena opened her own door; she stood on the gravelly ground.The sight of a very magnificent house welcomed my view. She stood in awe, mesmerized by the sight of how beautiful the house was.“Are you going to come in or do you want them to get you a bed, so that you'll be comfortable looking at the house well,” Adrian suggested.“Hmmm.” Elena jolted to reality. They strode into the house.“Welcome boss.” A tall man, with tattoos covering his whole hand.“Thank you Henry, Martha, attend to this young lady, show her to the guest room, and by tomorrow morning I want the third room in the east wing cleared then move her there by morning..” He gave out the orders to Martha.A woman appeared. Older, gray hair pulled tight. She looked at Ele

CHAPTER 4- Past cont (TROUBLE) "Where are we going?" she asked. The driver didn't answer. He hadn't spoken in forty minutes since she entered the car. They rolled into the underground. Twelve other vehicles, maybe more, black sedans, SUVs, and a limousine were parked in the garage like when you go to a car show. She had never seen such expensive cars all at once in her whole life. The driver opened her door. "This way." "Through the red door. Someone will meet you." Elena stepped onto the pavement. The red door was exactly where he said, painted a shade between wine and blood, set into a brick wall with no signage. She thought of Mateo, her mother, the envelope with seventy-five hundred dollars that had been bought for her for three weeks. She pushed through the door. The woman who met her had the same voice on the phone, smiling with teeth that were too white. “Your name.” The lady asked. “Elena, ma’am.” She replied. "Elena. Lovely. Come, we'll get you ready." "Ready fo

CHAPTER 3: Past cont (A Dangerous Bargain)Elena knew the exact sound of a life breaking apart. It sounded exactly like the polite, measured tone of the social worker standing in her doorway."Eleven days, Miss Marcelo," Linda Park said, her eyes fixed coldly on her clipboard. "Your nine-year-old brother hasn't seen the inside of a classroom in nearly two weeks. He's been spotted wandering the neighborhood alone. We have serious concerns about his safety."Elena stiffened, her fingers digging into the chipped paint of the doorframe. "My brother is fine.""He's nine," Linda repeated, a subtle threat laced in her tone. "Who is supervising him?""He's not wandering. He's walking to the hospital to see our mother." Elena's voice cracked, a brittle edge cutting through the quiet hallway. She refused to soften it. "I work two jobs. I can't be in two places at once.""I understand this is difficult,""No." Elena stepped into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind her so Mateo wo

CHAPTER 2– Past 1 (debt)ELENA"Miss Marcelo." The voice on the phone was brisk. "Am I speaking with Miss Marcelo, please?"Elena had let the call ring twice while she stared at the cracked ceiling of her studio apartment."Yes," she said. "Please go on.""Okay, good,I called because your mother's vitals dropped overnight. Dr. Chen would like you to come in today."Elena sat up. The mattress springs groaned beneath her, a sound she'd learned to sleep through the way she'd learned to sleep through the radiator's clanking and the neighbor's fighting and the endless, grinding hum of a city that never stopped needing. "How bad has it gotten?""Dr. Chen will explain once you're at the hospital."God. Her situation had gotten so bad they couldn't even give her bad news over the phone anymore."I'll be there by two," she said, and hung up before they could tell her that afternoon might be too late.The apartment was freezing. November in Brooklyn, and her landlord had decided heating was a D

CHAPTER 1– SOLD FOR TWO MILLION "Don't struggle." Elena woke up, She tried to move but couldn't. Her wrists were bound behind her, with something soft and strong that bit into her skin whenever she struggled. Something like Silk scarves, maybe. But whatever it was, they held together well. She was lying on her side, her cheek pressed to the floor, her legs free but heavy, sluggish, still fighting whatever they'd use to sedate her. Then a voice came from nearby. Female. Young. And it appears she looks terrified. Elena forced her eyes open at once. The room was long and low, lined with mirrors. Twenty women, maybe thirty. Some of them sat on the floor like hers, with their legs crossed, and their faces blank with shock. Others stood against the walls, with their arms wrapped around themselves, eyes too wide. While a few of them were crying silently, tears tracking through makeup. Numbers pinned to their dresses. Gold ink on cream cards. Elena looked down at her own